Optical viewer



Oct. 27, 1953 J. A. COLE ,7

OPTICAL VIEWER Filed Jan. 25, 1950 5 Shets-Sheet 1 INVHVTOR. ANEY A.COLE HIS ATTORNEY Oct. 27, 1953 J. A. COLE 2,655,753

OPTICAL VIEWER Filed Jan. 25, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 d INVENTOR. JANEY A.COLE HIS ATTORNEY Oct. '27, 1953 COLE 2,656,758

OPTICAL VIEWER Filed Jan. 25, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. JANEY A.COLE 1 HIS ATTORNEY J. A. COLE OPTICAL VIEWER Oct. 27, 1953 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 25, 1950 INVENTOR. JANEY 0 LE BY A M5327 HISATTORNEY Patented Oct. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES iATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

This invention relates to optical apparatus, and more particularly tooptical viewing devices.

An object of my invention is the provision of a simple, practical andreliable optical viewing device which is amenable to focusing.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an illuminatedoptical viewer which has adjustability for giving definition and clarityof image, thus better to meet particular demands of the eyes of theuser.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an easily focusedinexpensive optical device which gives satisfactory optical alignmentthroughout the several focusing positions.

A still further object of my invention is that of providing an opticaldevice of the character indicated, for viewing such articles as picturefilms which are pervious to light.

Other objects in part will be obvious and in part pointed out more fullyhereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the combination of elements, andin the features of construction and operation, the scope of theapplication of which is indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing representing certain embodiments of myinvention:

Figure l is a top view of an optical viewer having features inaccordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same viewer;

Figure 3 represents the optical viewer in front elevation;

Figure 4 depicts another embodiment, this being a stereoscopic opticalviewer, shown in perspective Figures 5 and 6 respectively represent sideand front elevations of another optical viewer made in accordance withmy invention;

Figures 7 8 respectively are a top view and side elevation of a stillfurther optical viewer which I provide; and

Figures 9 and 10 are respectively a top view and a side view of anotheroptical viewer made in accordance with my invention.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features of myinvention, it may be noted at this point that optical viewers have comeinto widespread demand for such purposes as the observation of objectsunder magnification. A popular class of these viewers, for example,introduce the feature of illumination, especially where the object to beshown is pervious to light. Many of the viewers are equipped with asource of light behind the zone occupied by the pervious v object, andthusafford illumination and facilitate observation of the object fromthe side opposite the light source.

A growing popularity of miniature-size color or black and whitephotographs or transparencies for example has brought into the marketvarious types of viewers, as for illuminating and magnifying the tinypictures. For those who have a number of film or picture transparenciesand wish to show them without going to the trouble of setting up aprojector and a screen, a viewer is a convenient instrument. In otherinstances, some of the viewers are useful in the medical or dentalprofession for the magnification and study of X-ray pictures, such as ofthe small size black and white film type so well known today indentistry.

While many needs exist for optical viewers, difficulty has heretoforebeen encountered from the standpoint of focusing. For obtaining clearand definite images of the pictures shown, it

becomes desirable to adjust the viewing devices. The matter of focusingan optical viewer, however, heretofore usually has introduced more thanwarranted expense of construction where satisfactory durability of theinstrument and reliable opt cal alignment of the optical system had tobe assured. There have been instances too where reliable opticalalignment and other important features of the viewers have beensacrificed, to

great detriment, for the sake of achieving relatively inexpensivefocusing instruments.

An important object of my invention accordingly is the provision of adurable and reliable magnifying optical viewer such as for pictures,

{.3 slides or films, which viewer embodies a simple,

inexpensive and highly satisfactory focusing system, for maintain nggood optical alignment with change of focusing position to give a clearimage.

It can be said that a properly lighted focusing viewer with the correctoptical parts, will show transparencies more clearly than any otherdevice. First: The luminosity range is very long. This gives a widecontrast between the lightest and darkest areas of the film and all thegrada- 45 tions in between, with real life-like effects.

Secondly: Many persons who have postponed getting glasses or having arefitting because of slight need for correction will find, in a focusingviewer, whatever correction is needed and will so be able to see theobjects on view with unaccustamed sharpness.

Referring now more particularly to an embodiment of my invention, Iprovide an optical viewer It (see Figures 1 to 3 inclusive) whichcomprises to optical means for producing an image, this optical meansfor example including a convex, magnifying objective lens is with orwithout additional lenses, prisms or other portions such a to form aneye-piece. An upright portion of the optical viewer, such as standards25 and 25 disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation to eachother and fastened at their lower ends to one end of a support or base23 of the viewer, illustratively afiords pivotalconnection for theobjective-lensi3; The :lens forexample hasits rim fixed in a frame 28,the latter havin diametrically opposite bearing portions 29 and 39.

which conveniently provide concave bearing sur faces at their ends.Pivot screws 3! and;32?exr-.--

tending laterally through the upper. ends of standards 25 and 26,adjustably enter'thecon cavities of portions 29 and30:..to..supporttheqlens 'means. The guide .means I has i a portionwhich forms: a substantially: straight path: or channel for. guiding"the :carrier means, and thus the obiectofzviewsupported by the latter,todifferent positions in distance beneath and awayfromthe opticalm'eans;The path-formingportion of the guide; means extends. along. the lengthof the base 23'. and for: example includes: substantiallyparallelispacedguides 2| and 22 which are so fastened to the topofthe1base as to form a substantially straight channel therewith. Thischannel extendsin: a directionwhich. is substantially at rightianglesrtothe axis of tiltof lens [3,". as; from' between: the. standards 25 and:25 toward the: outeror back'endof the'base 23. Of course. ifdesiredjtherpath-forming portion of the'guide means may be aunitaryportionisuchas a channel. mounted. on: top the: base 23 andextending along the-len'gth of the latter.

In the. presentinstance; the guide means also includes'af follower 20;whichfor example is a block fortsliding along thessubstantia'llystraight path 'as directly. on top the base 23' and I between theguidcsHand 22. The'follower 26 advantageously is restrained against escapefrom its guided course by overlying projections or. legs 2 iarand 22a oftheguides; A stop Mat the outer or"back endof base 23' prevents escapeof the follower pastthe outer or back ends of the guides;

Where theimagetobe producedis that of a light perviousobject' lz such asa photographic slide'or film, the carrier means'll preferably includesan illuminating box 14. This box M'conveniently is provided withia hingeI 9' along its lower'baok'edge, the-hinge-having one leaf connected tothe box and-'theother'leaf connected 'toithefollower Ziifor'tilting thebox about a line \vhich'is transverse or substantially atright angles tothe path of guidance OfithB'fOllOWBl.

The'illuminating'box M'as with the aid of a front ledge 36; holds thelight-'epervious object l2 toilluminatedzposition' over. an opening ISin the. box wall and for-tilting with the box about hinge I 9 todifferent positions of view through the lens I3. Opening [5advantageously is covered by light-diffusing means behind the object,illustratively by a plate of opalite glass 15a suitably secured at itsedges to the inside surface of the illuminating box. Light convenientlyis supplied by a bulb I6 which illustratively is held to positionimmediately behind the opening l5 by a socket I? which is supported tothe inside surfaceoftheilluminating box. A reflector l8 preferably isused behind the bulb for directing the light to the diffusing plate Isaand through the light pervious object. Suitable electrical leads (not-;shown) conveniently extend from the socket and through the illuminatingbox for connecting" the bulb with a source of electrical power.

Connecting means between the carrier means andtheoptical means keeps thetilting thereof in unison, and maintains substantial optical alignmentsoft the :opticalqmeans with the objectwith variationpf the objectdistance; In this .for. exampleytheoptical center of the lens is :iskept in alignment with thecenter or" the opening. [5. or maintains someother. suitable average position relative to theobjectsto be observed.To preserve thislre'lative:position and also to enable focusing, Lfind;advantage. inusing slide means such as an alignment arm. 35. forinterconnectingthe lens l3 and box M. The arm forvexamp'leris'fixed atoneiendaoftthe Iensframe 28 asin .alug 35 projecting from. theiframeat apoint which'for example is aboutS-i) degreesremoved from the lens pivotscrews; 3! and. 32.. This lug conveniently has abore which forexampleireceivesthe'upper endi'ofiarm 35fand holds. the same fixed toposition: by press fit. The. arm illustrativelyis inclined backward and.downwardfrom the lens frame and: is free to slide in a slot or bore 31reaching fromsfront to back through the top of theilluminatingbox lofthecarrier H.

Inviewing the flat objects such as the light perviousobject: ortransparency l2," the carrier H and lens l3 preferably are so intercomnected by the arm 35 as to keep the plane of the object: substantiallyparallel to the plane of the rim of the lens. This relative parallelismadvantageouslyprevails through different posi tions'of foc-us achievedby varying the distance between thelens and the object. The latterdistance is' varied by displacing the slide=28"along the guides 2| and22, such as to the dotted line position corresponding to the position Dof the viewer ill in Figure 2. While the slide 29 is approaching itsdotted line position from thefull line position shown, the illuminatingbox [4 and accordingly the object l2 supported on the box turn clockwiseabout the hinge l9. At the same time, Withmovement of the box 14, arm 35slides along the slot 3? and is raised through a clockwise rotation withthe frame 28 and lens l3 on'pivots3l and 32. Stop 24 is eifective'forarresting movement of slide 28 farther to the left in Figure 2 than saybeyond the dotted line position. The slide, however, may be moved backto the right until for example the lower end of armed contacts the base23' to act as a stop against continued movement in this direction. Atany-of the many possible settings of the slide 29 forfocusing, the planeof the rim of the lens lt'and the plane of the fiat object remainsubstantially paralleliand in optical alignment.

In a somewhat different embodiment of my invention, I provide astereoscopic viewer 5 .3 (represented in Figure 4 of the drawing) havingcarrier means Ho and a lens frame 28c. This frame illustratively carriestwo lenses SI and 52, these being side by side and individuallycorresponding to the right and left eyes of an observer. illuminatingbox Ma oi the carrier means Ha, has in effect two windows through thefront thereof for he outlet of light to a right eye object component 5to a left eye object component which correspond for stereoscopicblending as respectively viewed through the objective lenses 5! and 52.There is a ledge 5'! on the box its for receiving and holding theseveral object components to position over the light windows. Apartition conveniently is used outside the box Ma and between thecomponents of the object to assure separate view through the lenses. Allother features of the stereoscopic viewer 5t illustratively are the sameas those described in connection with the viewer Hi, this including theieatures of construction for focusing and optical. alignment.

Sometimes the optical viewer which I provide includes for enclosing thespace between the lens and the object to be viewed, such as to preventthe entrance light from external sources. In this connection, referenceis had to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing wherein there is represented anoptical viewer Gil having a casing 8 The casing ii conveniently providesa throat 52 in which the frame Ml of an objective lens is pivotallymounted on its diameter as by set screws 65 and as in the casing wall.An annular bellows 5? preferably is used to close oil? the space betweenthe lens frame and the casing throat and advantageously is made of alight-impervious material if the entrance of light to inside the casingis to be excluded. 'A bot tom or base of the casing ll conveniently supports and affords guides for a follower or slide blocl; to give astraight path of movement. llinged to the slide is carrier means illincluding an illuminating box, and this box is connected with the lensframe 54 by arm '54 for tilting with the lens and frame in accordancewith the principle of focusing and alignment alree described inconnection with the optical viewer ill. The slide conveniently is movedalong its guided path for controlling focus, by means of a plunger llextending through the front s4 and having an external knob easy manualoperation.

With this particular arrangement, the plunger is manually operable tomove the block and thus efiect d focal adjustment of the optical systemof th v ewer. The casing ill advantageously door :5 for ready access toan obhich has been exposed to view, and for 3, e long enough to permitthis access no matter what position of the slide 59 and carrier lEl hasselected for focus. The door, for example, is biased, as by means of asuitable spring, to closed position such as to exclude light from theoutside and includes a knob l5 or the like on the outside to facilitateopening against the spring action.

An optical viewer (see Figures '7 and 8), having features in accordancewith my invention, comprises a base or support 8 l, and carrier meanswhich is slidable along a curved path and coiunctions with an arm as tomaintain'substam tial alignment of an objective lens s3 and an object asin the viewer to throughout different positions of focus. The support orbase Bl conveniently affords guide means including a channel 85, thechannel having a curved bottom 85a which is concave downward. Anilluminating box 81 of the carrier means 82 fits in this channel andthus is guided to difierent positions of tilt along the length of thelatter, bottom Bil of the box for example including a follower portionof the guide means, this portion being curved from front to back so asto be convex and conform to the channel bottom. a wall as of theilluminating box 8'! has an opening Bil therethrough, closed over by alight diffusing screen or plate so which is suitably held in placeagainst the inside surface of the box wall. On the outside of this wall,and adjacent to the openings fill are upper and lower rails 9| and 92for slidably receiving the object 84 and keeping the same over theopening during the viewing operation. A. source of light including alight bulb 93, a socket 94 for the bulb, and a reflector s5, is mountedinside the box 8? in satisfactory position for providing light to theopening 89 and thus to the object 54. Suitable electrical leads, as inthe form of an extension cord conveniently serve for supplying currentfrom :an outside source through the box wall to the socket.

Standards 9! and 93 for example are provided for supporting theobjective lens 8%. These standards illustratively are rigidly fastenedat their lower ends to opposite sides of one end of the support or base8! and extend upward in substantially parallel relation in front of thecarrier means 82. Objective lens 83- is in a suitable frame which ispivotally mounted by set screws I00 and II]! in the standards, fortilting on a diameter which is transverse to the position of support ofthe object 8t while confron ing the object. Arm 99 extends from rigidconnection with the lens frame to sliding connection with the carriermeans 32. The latter connection is conveniently provided by means of alug I82 attached to the illuminating box ill. This lug for exampleextends upward and backward from the rear edge of the top of the box andhas a hole for receiving and guiding the arm. The arm maintains theobjective lens 33 substantially parallel to the plane of the object asor otherwise suitably aligned with the object, and the curvature of thebottom of channel is suflicient for substantially preserving thisalignment when the position of the carrier means 82 is changed along thechannel. The movement of the carrier means to a diiierent position bysliding along the channel causes the illuminating box to tilt. At thesame time the arm slides through the lug m2 and moreover causes the lens83 to tilt a substantially like amount for preserving alignment althoughthe actual distance between the lens and object are changed in slidingthe carrier means 82 along the on supporttl. A representation of twoparticular settings of the receiver {iii is given in Figure 8, one ofthese positions being shown by full lines and the other by dotted lines.

As an alternative in the optical viewers which I provide, the connectormeans for keeping the tilting of the object carrier and lens in unison,extends from levering connection with the lens, on substantially directradius from the axis of tilt of the latter, to slidable connection withthe object carrier. Thus, for example, in the embodiment of my inventionrepresented in Figures 9 and 10, I provide an optical viewer 2% havingan objective lens 2l3 pivotally disposed between standards 225 and 225,the lower ends of these standards being rigidly fastened to the oppositesides of one end of a base or support 223. Pivot screws'23l and 232extending laterally through the upper ends of the, standards 225 and226, and toward each other, adjustably enter concavities in hubs 22S and238, these hubs for example being diametrically opposed extensions of anannular frame 228 which receives and holds the lens 213. Carrier means 2i i for a light-pervious object 2l2, this means being disposed behindthe lens, ad-.- vantageously includes illuminating box 2M.

A front wall 230 of the illuminating box has an opening 23% therethroughfor the egress of light from a suitable source such as a bulb, reflectorand socket assembly 233 inside the box, the bulb conveniently beingenergized through leads 23l extending from the socket to. outside thebox. A sheet of opalite glass 232 or other light diffusing meansadvantageously covers the opening 230a, such as by being mounted to theinside surface of the front wall 239. The opening 23% is large enough toadmit light to the transparent object 252, which is disposed outside thefront wall 230 for View through the objective lens 2 l 3.,

The carrier means 250 is supported on a guide follower its for movingalong a substantially straight line path at about right angles to theaxis of tilt of the objective lens 2l3. This path is conveniently formedwith the base 223 by substantially parallel guides 22! and 222 mountedon top the latter, giving a straight channel directed The illuminatingbox 214 is interconnected, as

by a hinge 2!?! at the back lower edge, for tilt relative to the guidefollower. The axis of tilt of the box is substantially parallel with theaxis of tilt of the objective lens. Guide rods 250 and Z slidablyinterconnected the objective lens 213 and the object carrier means 2| 3for keeping the respective tilts of the lens and carrier means in unisonand the lens optically aligned with the obiect. These rods extendsubstantially radially from the axis of tilt of the lens to beside theilluminating box 2M. In this for example, rods 25d and 255 have theirupper ends respectively fast to the hubs 229 and 230 for rotating withthe same in the manner of spokes. The lower portion of rod 250 isslidable in spaced guides 253 and 25 i fast to one side wall of theilluminating box 224, the lower portion of rod 25! is slidable in spacedguides 255i and 256 fast to the opposite box wall. The several guidesfor the rods il lustnatively are in the form of posts having alignedopenings for slidably receiving the rods.

The guide follower 2!!) thus can be moved in a substantially straightpath along base 223 and between guides 22l and 222. This alters thedistance of illuminating box 214 from the lens H3 and accordinglychanges the object distance. The guide rods 25% and 25! meanwhile sliderelative to th ir respective guides 253, 254, 255 and 256, to preserveoptical alignment of the objective lens the object within satisfactorylimits, and in this the illuminating box and lens tilt in unison abouttheir respective axes of tilt. It will be appreciated that thesubstantial radial relation of the rods 2 5i and 25! to the axis of tiltof the lens 3 may be omitted, leaving the other to maintain alignment ofthe lens and object with change of the object distance as hereinbeforedescribed.

For supporting the object H2 in viewing position, such as where theobject is a photographically exposed, transparent picture film mountedin the. usual frame of cardboard or the like for handling and rigidity,the carrier means preferably includes an object-feed-obiect holder 260.This particular holding means illustratively comprises a guide plate 210having opposite sides or flanges 210a and 2713b for guiding the objectto viewing position in the front of the box wall opening 23%. The guideplate preferably is affixed to the front wall 230 of the illuminatingbox, and itself has an opening sufliciently large for the egress oflight to behind and through the object. Sides or flanges 219a and 21Gbpreferably are at about right angles to the main portion of guide plate270, so as to form an open channel therewith. A frontal plate 26!,having a window 25m therein, for displaying the object to View behindand through the objective lens 2 i3 is mounted to the wall 239 of theilluminating box 2% so that the window 2cm is directly in front of thebox opening 230a and the opening in. plate 2'50. The frontal plateadvantageously is held to position by spaced fastening bolts 255 and2535 which extend through holes in the front wall 230 outside theflanges 210a and 2101) and individually receive coil springs 263, thelatter seating against the inside surfaces of the box front wall 239.Nuts 261 are on the inner ends of the bolts to hold the springscompressed so that the frontal plate is mildly urged toward the objectguide plate 210. The frontal plate preferably has two spaced presserfeet 215 attached thereto so that those feet are urged to contact andhold theborder of the object, such as the object frame, in accordancewith force supplied from the compressed springs 268.

The guide path for the object, afforded by plate 216 and its sides orflanges 215a and 210b, preferably is substantially vertical, so that anobject 2 l2 may be introduced at the top end of the path and pushed downbetween this plate and the presser feet 216 to bring that portion of theobject which is to be viewed to position behind the plate window 25 Is.This positioning is facilitated for example by a finger groove 26 lb inthe top edge of the frontal plate and by a corresponding groove in theguide plate 210. Guide plate 219 advantageously protrudes above thefrontal plate 26!, and the upper ends of the presser feet 276 occupypositions between the uppermost edges of the guide plate and the frontalplate, to facilitate insertion of the object for view. Once the object212 has been viewed through the lens 2l3 another object for view isintroduced at the top to the guide plate 219, thus displacing the firstobject downward to clear the presser feet 216 and fall clear of theguide path. The lower ends of presser feet 215 for example are above thelower edges of the plates Zfil and 21!! to give earlier release of theejected object.

The optical viewer 2E!!! preferably includes means for delivering viewedobjects to position for recovery, this means illustratively being aninclined trough or chute 215 having its upper end hinged at 21'! to theunderneath side of the illuminating box 2M and its lower end forward andslidable along the top surface of the viewer base between the followerguide portions 22m and 222a. The chute or trough receives the ob .iectswhich dropv from the lower ends of plates and 21B, and by virtue ofbeing inclined feeds the objects by gravity to position for convenientrecovery.

Thus, it will be seen that in this invention, I provide optical viewingapparatus wherein the various objects of invention noted herein togetherwith many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. Itwill be seen that the apparatus is readily focused to any of a number ofpositions of use, and that reliable optical alignment is had in thesepositions. Also, it will be seen that the apparatus embodies highlysatisfactory features of operation which are readily achieved on thebasis of simplicity of construction.

As many possible embodiments may be made of my invention and as manypossible changes may be made in the embodiments hereinbefore set forth,it will be understood that all matter described herein is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not as a limitation.

Iclaim:

1. An optical viewer, comprising, lens means for tilting to imageproducing positions, carrier means for displaying an object toward saidlens means, guide means having a curved uide path and a follower in saidpath for directing the carrier means to different positions of tilt fortilting the object and changing the distance for focus of said lensmeans, and means interconnecting the carrier means and the lens meansfor tilting the latter to maintain substantial optical alignment thereofwith the object during the focusing.

2. An optical viewer, comprising, lens means for tilting to imageproducing positions, carrier means for supporting a light-perviousobject toward said lens means and including an illuminating box forsupplying light behind and through the pervious object, means forenclosing the space between said illuminating box and lens means againstthe entrance of light from external sources, guide means having a guidepath and a follower for moving along said path to direct the carriermeans to different positions in distance for focus of said lens means onthe object, said carrier means being rotatably connected with saidfollower for tilting in the direction of said path to modify theinclination of the object, and connecting means for said carrier meansand the lens means to keep the tilting thereof in unison and maintainsubstantial optical alignment of the lens means with the object duringfocusing.

3. An optical viewer, comprising, a casing, lens means disposed in anopening through the wall of said casing rotatably connected with thelatter for tilting to image producing positions, carrier means insidesaid casing for supporting a light-pervious object toward said lensmeans and including an illuminating box for supplying light from behindand through the pervious object, said casing enclosing the space betweensaid illuminating box and lens means against the enframe of light fromexternal sources, guide means having a guide path inside said casing anda follower for sliding along said path to direct the carrier means todifferent positions in distance for focus of said lens means on theobject, said carrier means being rotatably connected with said followerfor tilting in the direction of said path to modify the inclination ofthe object, and connecting means for said carrier means and the lensmeans to keep the tilting thereof in unison and maintain substantialoptical alignment of the lens means with the object during focusing.

4. An optical viewer, comprising a base and a substantially uprightportion extending from the same, lens means rotatably supported to saidupright portion for tilting about a line of rotation to image producingpositions, an illuminating box for supporting a light pervious objectand supplying light behind and through the same toward said lens means,guide means including a portion affording a substantially straight guidepath extending along said base and a follower portion for sliding alongthe path to direct said illuminating box to different positions beneathand away from said lens means for focus of the latter on the object,said box being rotatable with respect to said follower portion fortilting in the direction of said path to modify the inclination of theobject, and means slidably interconnecting said illuminating box andlens means in optical alignment and rotatable with said lens means tomaintain the alignment upon movement of said follower portion along saidpath.

5. An optical viewer, comprising, a base and a substantially uprightportion extending from the same, lens means rotatably supported to saidupright portion and having an axis for tilting to image producinpositions, an illuminating box for supporting a light-pervious objectand supplyin light behind and through the same toward said lens means,guide means including a portion affording a substantially straight guidepath extending along said base and a follower portion for sliding alongsaid path to direct said illuminating box to different positions beneathand away from said lens means for focus of the latter on the object,said box being rotatably connected with said follower portion fortilting in the direction of said path to modify the inclination of csaid object, and connecting means extending from levering connectionwith said lens means, on substantially direct radius from the axis oftilt thereof, to slidable connection with the side area of saidilluminating box to keep the tilting of the latter in unison with thelens means and maintain substantial optical alignment of the object withsaid lens mean with variation of the object distance.

6. An optical viewer, comprising, a base and a substantially uprightportion extending from the same, lens means rotatably supported to saidupright portion and having an axis for tilting to image producingpositions, carrier mean including an object-feedobject holder forsupporting an object to view behind and through said lens means and forejection by another object to be viewed, guide means including a portionaffording a guide channel extending along said base and a followerportion for sliding in said channel to direct the carrier means todifferent positions beneath and away from said lens means for focus ofthe latter on the object of view and to dispose the discharge end ofsaid object-feed-object holder directly above said guide channel, saidcarrier means being moveable to different positions of tilt in thedirection of said path to modify the inclination of the object of view,and connecting means for said carrier means and lens means to keep thetilting thereof in unison and maintain optical alignment of the lensmean and object of view during focusing.

7. An optical viewer, comprising, a base and a substantially uprightportion extending from the same, lens means rotatably supported to saidupright portion and having an axis for tilting t0 image producingpositions, carrier means including an object-feed-object holder forsupportin an object for view to behind said lens means and for ejectionby another object to be viewed, guide means including a portionaffording a guide channel extending along said base and a followerportion for sliding along said base in said channel portion to directsaid carrier means to positions beneath and away from said lens meansfor focus of the latter on the object of view and to dispose thedischarge end of said object-feed-object holder above said guidechannel, said carrier means being rotatably connected with said followerportion for tilting in the direction of said path to modify theinclination of the object of view, means interconnecting said lens meansand carrier means to keep the tilting thereof in unison upon saidcarrier means being moved toward or away from said lens means andmaintain substantial optical alignment of said lens means with theobject of view with variation of the object distance, and chute meanshingedly connected with said carrier means for conveying the viewedobject into said guide channel, for recovery.

8. An optical viewer, comprising, a support, optical means including alens holder and at least one lens therein, said holder and lens beingmounted as a unit to said support for tilting with respect to the sameon a fixed axis of tilt, carrier means for displaying a light-perviousobject to said lens and including an illuminating box for supportingsaid object and supplying light behind and through the same, guide meansincluding a portion on said support affording a guide path having fixedposition relative to the latter and a portion moveable with said carriermeans for directing said illuminating box generally toward and away fromsaid lens and the object on a course offset from the fixed axis of tiltof said lens holder and lens, said illuminating box being moveable todifferent positions of tilt to display the object to said lens, andlever means inclined with respect to said fixed guide path and slidablyinterconnecting said illuminating box and lens holder and lens unit inoptical alignment and rotatable with said lens holder and lens unitabout said axis of tilt to maintain the alignment upon said carriermeans being moved along said guide path.

9. An optical viewer, comprising, a base and a substantially uprightportion rigidly fast to said base, lens means supported above said baseto said upright portion and rotatable on an axis of tilt fixed inposition with respect to the latter and said base, carrier means fordisplaying an object to said lens means, uide means including a portionon said base affording a guide path having fixed position relative tothe latter and a slide portion moveable with said carrier means alongsaid path to direct said carrier means generally toward and away fromsaid lens means and the object on a course below the level of said fixedaxis of tilt of the lens means, and inclined lever means slidablyinterconnecting said carrier means and lens means in optical alignmentand rotatable with said lens means about said axis of tilt to maintainthe alignment upon said follower being moved along said guide path.

10. An optical viewer, comprising, a support, lens means mounted on saidsupport for tilting with respect to the same on a substantially fixedaxis, carrier means for displaying an object to saidoptical means, guidemeans including a portion affording a guide path on said support havingfixed position relative to the latter and extending generally toward andaway from said lens means and a follower for said path moveable withsaid carrier means and fully restrained against substantial movementexcept along said path for directing said carrier means generally towardand away from said lens means and the object on a course ofiset from thefixed axis of tilt of the lens means, said carrier means being rotatableto various positions of tilt with respect to said follower to displaythe object to the lens means, and means slidably interconnecting saidcarrier means and len means in optical alignment and rotatable with saidlens means about said axis of tilt to maintain the optical alignmentupon said follower being moved along said guide path.

11. An optical viewer, comprising, a base and a substantially uprightportion rigidly fast to said base, optical means including a lens holderand at least one lens therein, said holder and lens being mounted as aunit on said upright portion for tilting with respect to the same on afixed axis of tilt, carrier means for displaying an object to said lens,guide means including a portion affording a guide path on said basehaving fixed position relative to the latter and extending generallytoward and away from said lens and a follower in said path moveable withsaid carrier means and fully restrained against substantial movementexcept along said path for directing said carrier means generally towardand away from said lens and the object on a course below the level ofsaid fixed axis of tilt of said lensv holder and lens, said carriermeans being rotatable to tilt with respect to said follower to displaythe object to said lens, and inclined lever means slidablyinterconnecting said carrier means and lens in optical alignment androtatable with said lens holder and lens unlit about said axis of tiltto maintain the optical alignment upon said follower path.

12. An optical viewer, comprising, a base and a. substantially uprightportion extending from the same, lens means rotatably supported to saidupright portion for tilting about a line of rotation to image producingpositions, carrier means for supporting an object to said lens means,guide means including a portion on said base affording a guide pathhaving fixed position relative to the latter and a slide portionmoveable with said carrier means for sliding along the path to directsaid carrier means to different positions heneath and away from saidlens means for focus of the latter on the object, said carrier meansbeing moveable to different positions of tilt in the direction of saidpath to modify the inclination of the object, and means interconnectingsaid lens means and carrier means to keep the tilting thereof in unisonupon movement of said slide portion along said guide path and maintainsub" stantial optical alignment of said lens means with the object withvariation of the object distance.

13. An optical viewer, comprising, a base and a substantially uprightportion extending from the same, lens means rotatably supported to saidupright portion for tilting about a line of rotation to image producingpositions, an illuminating box for supporting a light-pervious objectand supplying light behind and through the same to said lens means,guide means including a portion on said base affording a guide pathhaving fixed position relative to the latter and a slide portionmoveable with said illuminating box for sliding along the path to directsaid box to different positions beneath and away from said lens meansfor focus of the latter on the object, said box being moveable todiiferent positions of tilt in the direction of said path to modify theinclination of the object, and inclined lever means slidablyinterconnecting said illuminating box and lens means in opticalalignment and rotatable with said lens means to maintain the alignmentupon said slide portion being moved along said guide path.

14. A stereoscopic viewer, comprising, a base and a substantiallyupright portion extending from the same, right and left eye lens meansrotatably supported to said upright portion for tilting as a unit abouta line of rotation to stereoscopic image producing positions, carriermeans for supporting an object having right and left eye components forstereoscopic blending toward said lens means, guide means havingrelatively movable slide portions respectively on said base and movablewith said carrier means affording a guide path for directing saidcarrier means to different positions of support of the stereoscopicobject beneath and away from said lens means for stereoscopicimage-producing focus of the latter on the object, said carrier meansbeing movh a substantially upright portion extending from the same, lensmeans rotatably supported to said upright portion for tilting about aline of rotation to image producing positions, carrier means forsupporting an object to said lens means, guide means having relativelymovable slide portions respectively on said base and movable with saidcarrier means afiording a guide path for directing said carrier means todifferent positions beneath and away from said lens means for focus ofthe latter on the object, said carrier means being movable to differentpositions of tilt along said path to modify the inclination of theobject, and means interconnecting said lens means and carrier means tokeep the tilting thereof in unison upon movement of said carrier meansalong said guide path and maintain substantial optical alignment of saidlens means with the object with variation of the object distance.

JANEY A. COLE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 268,432 Powell Dec. 5, 1882 1,118,455 White Nov. 24. 19141,606,702 Heitzler Nov. 9, 1926 1,612,800 Brock Jan. 4, 1927 1,983,439De Vore Dec. 4, 1934 2,127,711 Baldauf Aug. 23, 1938 2,204,709 Straubelet a1. June 18. 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 28,082 GreatBritain of 1896 465,516 France Feb. 7, 1914

